Lygon Rock

Lygon Rock ran a good race to finish second behind the well-backed Paisley Park in the 2m 4f handicap hurdle. A little keen through the early stages of the race up on the outside of leader Haul Away, Henry Daly’s horse moved to the front easily as they left the back straight and, even though he made a mistake at the cross-flight, which turned out to be the final flight because of the omission of the two flights in the home straight, he still travelled well in front into the home straight. He was joined and passed by Paisley Park with a furlong and a half to run but, while he couldn’t go with the winner, he still kept on well enough to retain second place.

It was a good performance from Lygon Rock, giving best only to a progressive individual who was well fancied and well backed. He would have been a good winner without the winner in the race, and he probably wasn’t helped by the omission of the two hurdles in the straight. Also, the third horse, Forecast, was an impressive winner of a handicap hurdle on Tuesday at Lingfield. He is only five, and this was just his sixth run over hurdles, his first since May and his first since a wind operation. There should be more to come, and a 2lb hike to a mark of 125 was not harsh. He is entered in handicap hurdles at Cheltenham on Saturday and Sunday this weekend.

Aintree, 28^th October 2018